Orlando Pirates promise to pile on the pressure on Stellies

pirates-09-may-2024

Riveiro was speaking to the media after their 2-0 win over Chippa United in a DStv Premiership match at the Orlando Stadium last night.

A quick brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa in the first half was enough to seal the much-needed three points for Bucs.

With three games to go, Pirates are on 49 points, and Riveiro expects his team to go all out for the CAF Champions League spot.

“Stellies are still ahead of us, one point that’s the reality. They’re still depending on their own performances and results, we have to continue pulling pressure and pushing as much as we can in order to do our own homework,” Riveiro said.

“It’s gonna be difficult for all of us until the end. Tight games for sure but at the same time it’s a nice fight. Stellies is having an excellent season, whatever happens at the end of the season for them is an exceptional campaign.

“It’s a second objective obviously but it’s the highest position that we can achieve right now and we’re gonna give our all.”

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Stellies were held to a goalless draw by AmaZulu at the Danie Craven Stadium last night.

Also working in Pirates’ favour in the remaining matches is the good momentum of their results, they have now won seven consecutive games, scored 23 goals in the process, and kept four clean sheets.

By keeping things tight at the back, Riveiro says half the job is done.

“Being solid, not conceding is a big thing for a team with a capacity that we have in attack. It’s difficult to keep a clean sheet against us so guaranteed that we are not conceding usually it means that we’re gonna get the three points,” The coach explained.

“I think we’re right now second in the log in scoring goals behind Sundowns, very close so if we keep consistency in defense and not giving away any goal. Not even conceding, I think we are defending very well not giving opportunities to the opponents to score and keeping the ball.

“Not in the last cup game against Chippa where we defended a lot of set pieces inside the box but I think in this game we managed to do it much better. So, obviously we need everybody involved, we need everybody performing in every phase of the game and the defensive phase is not an exception.”